Steroidal actions and voluntary drinking of ethanol by male and female rats

The effect of certain steroidal compounds with estrogenic and antiestrogenic properties on voluntary intake of ET by rats with preference to ET of both sexes was studied. The effect of a nonsteroidal antiandrogenic compound and its biologically active metabolite (SCH-16423) on these parameters was also evaluated. The observed behavioral drinking profile of ET was studied in conjunction with determination of L-ADH and L-ALDH as a function of drug treatment in both sexes. Acute administration of estrogenic compounds, estradiol and ethinyl estradiol, decreased voluntary drinking of ET by male and female rats, respectively. Short-term administration of the antiestrogenic compound TMX resulted in aversion to ET consumption in the male but not in the female rat. Acute administration of the SCH-16423 but not its parent nonsteroidal antiandrogen compound FL decreased ET drinking from predrug treatment. The biochemical results show an inhibitory action by the steroidal compound on hepatic L-M-ALDH with a lack of biochemical effect of FL and SCH-16423 on these enzymes. The results are discussed in conjunction with those available in literature to propose a hepatic-gonadal link in the preference to ET drinking and indicate that the underlying mechanism is probably related to the inhibitory action of estrogenic compounds used on L-M-ALDH.